Health care and pensions for an ageing population : Malta's response within a multi-tiered Europe

Abstract

Europe stands on the cusp of a demographic revolution. Over the next few decades, the make-up of Europe's population will change substantially. The baby-boom generation, that large cohort born between the late 1940's and mid 1960's, will gradually move into retirement, swelling the over-65s bracket. The generations that follow are much smaller, a result of decades of low fertility levels in almost all European countries. The main drivers of demographic change are fertility, life expectancy and migration. Europe's changing demographic prolife poses political, economic and social challenges that are as important and pressing as climate change, security and globalisation.